Heritage Speakers: A unique challenge for instructors
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Transcript of Heritage Speakers: A unique challenge for instructors
HERITAGE SPEAKERS: A UNIQUE CHALLENGE FOR INSTRUCTORS
Heritage Speakers Panel
SESSION OVERVIEW/PANEL DISCUSSION Goals of Heritage Speaker course Present different scenarios and
strategies that are being applied to meet these goals.
Identify three to five core foundations that a Heritage Speaker program should be built on
HERITAGE SPEAKERS
The increase of Heritage speakers (primarily Spanish) in both large and mid-size metropolitan areas
Diversity of backgrounds The Heritage Speakers of today are by no
means the same as 15, 10, or even 5 years ago.
HERITAGE SPEAKER GROWTH
Hispanics, accounted for over 25 percent of population growth in non-metro areas during the 1990s.
The Hispanic population in rural and small-town America has doubled from 1.5 to 3.2 million and is now the most rapidly growing segment of non-metro county residents.
HERITAGE SPEAKER GROWTH
Non-metro Hispanic population more than doubled in 20 mostly Southern and Midwestern States, with growth rates as high as 416 percent.
*2000 Census
HERITAGE SPEAKER PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed: specifically for heritage speakers of Spanish with
oral proficiency but little or no formal training in the language.
for learners who were raised in homes or brought up in a community where Spanish was spoken.
to build on the formal aspect of the language that students already possess.
to further develop reading and writing skills, although all of four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) are emphasized via cultural and community activities.
GOALS OF HERITAGE SPEAKER COURSE
Development of lexicon Further develop listening, reading, and
writing skills Students will communicate fluently Inspire a sense of pride in their
heritage/identity
HERITAGE SPEAKERS WOULD SAY…
"I have not studied Spanish formally. I grew up hearing Spanish (home or community). I don't know how to speak it, though."
"Several of my family members are Spanish-speaking. I want to learn to read and write in Spanish."
"I am a U.S. Latino/Latina and I want to improve my speaking, reading and writing skills in Spanish. I also want to learn more about my culture."
HERITAGE SPEAKER PANEL
Representation of Higher Ed Programs with large Heritage Speaker student populations
California, Florida, and Texas 2-year and 4-year colleges Interactive session
HERITAGE SPEAKER PROGRAMCHAFFEY COLLEGE
Douglas Duno
COURSES
Spanish 1 SS and Spanish 2 SS (1st year)
Composition Class Hispanic Literature 1800 – Present
(Survey) Mexican Literature in Translation Latin American Literature in Translation
STUDENTS BACKGROUND
Regular American Kids 18-25 years old Watch Desperate House Wives, Lost,
and “los culebrones de las telenovelas” Glued to the Iphone Short Attention Span Communicate mainly in English
STUDENTS BACKGROUND
Technologically savvy Academically underprepared First in family to attend college
CHALLENGES THAT AFFECT OUR HERITAGE PROGRAM
Lack of physical space to offer more Heritage speakers classes (we have to compete with regular language classes)
Well trained teachers specially in the target subject.
Interactive and pertinent software or a system like Blackboard, webct
CHALLENGES THAT AFFECT OUR HERITAGE PROGRAM
A true Heritage speaker friendly textbook.
Changing the lexicon they have used all their life.
WHAT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OUR PROGRAM?
The number of students with a C o better has improved in the last two years.
The number os sections offered has increased as well
The creation of new different classes (composition) because the increase of Heritage Speaker Population
The collaboration with the Language Resource Center (Lab) which has become an extension of the course. Students are required to complete Directed Learning Activities (complement the material taught in the classroom
WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO MAKE THIS THE IDEAL PROGRAM?
Create non-transferable basic foundation classes before allowing students to enroll in the transferable courses. (English/math)
Establish a relation with public four year institutions to allow students to continue the study of the language without interruptions.
HERITAGE SPEAKERS COURSES
Yolanda Gonzalez, Valencia Community CollegeDina Fabery, University of Central Florida
HISPANIC POPULATION IN FLORIDA
State of Florida : Census Bureau 2000 Hispanic o Latino: 16.8%
Mexican: 2.3% Puerto Rican: 3.0% Cuban: 5.2% Others: 6.3%
STUDENT PROFILE VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (VCC) AND
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA (UCF)
Valencia Community College Hispanics – 20.7 %
University of Central Florida Hispanics – 14.8 %
UNIQUE NEEDS OF VCC/UCF STUDENTS
An increase of Heritage Speakers students enrolling in introductory and intermediate courses.
Need for Heritage Speakers to fulfill a Foreign Language Requirement
Interest in pursuing a minor or major in their Heritage Language
Majority of our heritage students come from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Cuba.
COLLABORATION
Students enroll in at VCC to complete their introductory courses.
Students from VCC have guaranteed acceptance at UCF once they complete their AA. For that reason, many students from VCC transfer to UCF.
Students at VCC are required to fulfill a foreign language requirement with an introductory language course.
BENEFITS
The FL curriculum are the same at both schools.
Transition is easier for students who fulfilled their language requirement at VCC.
Learning objectives are designed in collaboration for students to achieve the level of proficiency gradually
The first year courses are offered at the community college so students can use the course to fulfill their requirement.
HERITAGE SPEAKER PANELWORLD LANGUAGES EXPERIENCE
Aymara BoggianoUniversity of Houston
THE HERITAGE LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Spanish 1505: Intensive Elementary Spanish Spanish 2307: Spanish for Hispanic Heritage
Learners I Spanish 2308: Spanish for Hispanic Heritage
Learners II Spanish 3307: Public Speaking in Spanish Spanish 3308: Written Communication for
Hispanic Heritage Learners
Why the three levels? Benefits and Challenges
STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS
Two Placement Tests 30- 38% Classified as Heritage
Data from Placement tests: In 1505 ¼ are HL 20% to 1505 60% to Intermediate 15% to 3000 level 5% to 4000 level
GOALS AND CHALLENGES AT
A. Separate true beginners from High Beginners Separate L2 students from HL Make smooth transition until they are again united
B. Convince administration of the need Majority of students are Latino/a Students did not feel comfortable in L2 classes Get approval for 1505
C. Create 2307/2308 Make Heritage Track attractive to reluctant HL
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES
Make Placement test as Credit by exam Get through Lang. requirement in less
time Attend to the needs of the two groups
separately Consider the affective component Raise their confidence in their ability to
use the language Address cultural, linguistic and affective
needs
COURSE MATERIALS
Books w/ on-line component Puentes 5th ed. Conozcámonos + Civilizacion y Cultura
or Literatura y Arte Hablar Bien Instituto Cervantes Por Escrito
TRAINING Spanish language teacher education programs
prepare teachers to teach Spanish as FL or SL not HL
What is missing? Instructor ‘s sensitivity to cultural and affective needs of
HL student Recognize and value dialects Recognize distinct needs and differences between HL &
L2 Recognize and create activities that build on their
knowledge of the language and can improve HL competence
WHERE DO WE BEGIN?
List top 3 -5 core building blocks for developing a heritage speaker program.
QUESTIONS…